Page 49 of Yours, Finally

"You look very handsome," she said. "The color you're wearing suits you."

I glanced across the hall, but I caught no sign of Vi. An undercurrent vibrated under my skin, poising my legs for the search. Tracing the smell of Vi in the air, until I found her and kissed her.

"Thank you." I smiled at Lina. "It's dark petrol blue— I think it goes well with my coloring."

"I agree." Max gave me one of his playful grins. "You lack melatonin, but you make it work. In a very Viking way. Celtic! Definitely Celtic warrior, considering."

I laughed. "Ithinkthat was a compliment."

"It was! Have I given you a claymore yet?" He asked. "I've been meaning to give you a claymore."

"You haven't, Max, but you keep telling me you will."

His grin turned cheeky. "My bad. I'll remedy that asap."

I shook my head and shifted on my feet. I loved my friends, my chosen family… but this restlessness was all about feeling like I was wasting time.

"Excuse me," I said. "I'll be back in a bit."

I wasn't sure what I planned, exactly, but it felt close to what my ancestors might have felt when going on the prowl.

Vi

For someone who valued authenticity, I was doing a good job at hiding the nerves swirling in my stomach. Ever since deciding the gala was the night I asked Jake out, anticipation had built in my gut, brick-by-brick, until it was hard to take a full breath.

At least I loved the way I looked in my dress, and that could only help my prospects.

"Why don't you come to the fundraiser more often?" Olivia asked.

We'd met in college and bonded over having similar backgrounds and preferring to live with our families. We cried together through all-nighters, and scoped out the sports teams in our free time. While she attended the gala every year, I didn't, and we weren't in touch so often anymore.

Therefore, I couldn't tell her I didn't have a good reason to skip the party, beyond wanting to avoid certain memories.

"I don't have an excuse." I shrugged. "But you know what we should do? Plan a girls trip. Call the old group. Go somewhere."

"I love that idea—" Olivia started, but we were interrupted by a large figure approaching us.

My smile faltered at the sight of Jake. My nerves weren't at fault for the change, but the wave of desire was. I saw him in a suit every day, but there was something about this dark teal tux that made him particularly alluring.

"Hello." He offered his hand to Olivia. "I'm Jake Stewart. I don't think we've met?"

She shook his hand with a twinkle in her eye. "Hi. I've heard about you, though."

"Oh?" He glanced at me, but returned a smile back to Olivia. "What has Vi told you about me?"

"That you're close to the family. That her dad calls you son. That you two spent most of the summer together while in College."

He raised his eyebrows. "She's told you a lot, then."

"She failed to mention a few details, like the fact you could win first place at the caber toss, from the look of you."

I smiled. "I have never tried, but I wouldn't be opposed. I believe my grandfather won a few prizes at the hammer throw."

I pursed my lips. "Are there Scottish Games we could go to? Just for the fun of it. As long as you wear a kilt."

Jake cast his eyes my way. "I'll buy a kilt if you like."

"You in your kilt and me in my huasa dress. We'd make quite the pair." I grinned at him.